Rs 3.2 Lakh Became Rs 6 Lakh Once The Heads Were Counted Properly
A rider injured by a motorcycle was awarded Rs 3,22,700. The High Court has rebuilt the award head by head and nearly doubled it.
The Court re-determined the compensation at Rs 5,98,995 against the Tribunal's Rs 3,22,700, with interest at 6 per cent from the date of the petition. The largest additions were Rs 3,49,633 for loss of future income due to disability and Rs 1,12,062 for the laid-up period — three months at a monthly income of Rs 37,354.
- The laid-up period is its own head, and three months was taken given the grievous injuries and fracture.
- Monthly income of Rs 37,354 is what both that head and the future loss are built on.
- Six heads in all — pain and suffering, diet and attendant charges, medical expenses, loss of amenities, laid-up period, and future income.
- Eight weeks for the insurer to deposit the amount with accrued interest.
- Court
- High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru
- Bench
- Justice R DEVDAS, Justice K.MANMADHA RAO
- Citation
- MFA No. 3500 of 2025
- Case
- MFA No. 3500 of 2025
- Decided
- 3 September 2026
- Outcome
- Appeal partly allowed; compensation enhanced to Rs 5,98,995
The laid-up period
Given the grievous injuries and the fracture, the Court took the view that the claimant would have been laid up for at least three months.
Taking his income at Rs 37,354 per month, he is entitled to Rs 1,12,062 under the head of loss of income during the laid-up period.
The award rebuilt
The Court re-determined compensation under six heads: pain and suffering Rs 30,000; diet, food, nourishment, attendant and conveyance charges Rs 30,000; medical expenses Rs 62,300; loss of amenities Rs 15,000; loss of income during the laid-up period Rs 1,12,062; and loss of future income due to disability Rs 3,49,633.
The total comes to Rs 5,98,995, as against Rs 3,22,700 awarded by the Tribunal, with interest at 6 per cent per annum from the date of the petition until realisation.
What follows
The appeal was allowed in part and the Tribunal's award of 11 November 2024 modified accordingly.
The insurance company is to deposit the compensation with any accrued interest within eight weeks, and the Registry was directed to transmit the records with a copy of the judgment to the Tribunal forthwith.
Who argued it
Appearances as recorded in the judgment of the Court.
Frequently asked
What is the laid-up period in a motor accident claim?
The time the injured person could not work. Here three months, at Rs 37,354 a month.
How was the future loss calculated?
As loss of future income due to disability, coming to Rs 3,49,633 of the total Rs 5,98,995.
Getting an injury award counted head by head
- Prove monthly income with documents; every income-based head is built on that single figure.
- Claim the laid-up period separately, with medical material on how long recovery took.
- Get the disability assessed and linked to earning capacity, not just to the body.
- List each head separately in the appeal so the court can rebuild the award rather than adjust a lump sum.
Source. High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru, MFA No. 3500 of 2025, decided 3 September 2026 by Justice R DEVDAS, Justice K.MANMADHA RAO. This explainer is written from the judgment text as reported.
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